Linda Stout

I played in NYC Jan. 19, meeting a wonderful singer named Jessica Star. See www.JessicaStar.com. She can really, really sing Janis Joplin songs. I learned some, too, (Mercedes Benz and Bye Bye Baby, and already knew Summertime) for that gig, which was on Miss Joplin's birthday. After hearing Jessica, I was inspired to start working on my own version of Move Over, acoustic, but driving, with those little licks. This trip to NYC was no fun, through a major snowstorm with lots of cars off the road, cars diverted off highways. It took forever. Finally, I was relieved to be driving in the city, slower and less snow than the highways.The drive back to Ithaca the next morning was relatively quick and simple. And I told myself that I got quiet time alone in the car, listened to lots of bad top 40 radio, (thought my tape player making noise, so didn't keep playing Alison Krause, gotta love her voice, but it was the heater fan working overtime). I talked some on the phone on the way, with headset, of course. Also, in NYC, saw, stayed with my dear old friend Sue Giles, the zany and sweet full of personality jazz singer, my old college roomie again, which was absolutely great. She also works her tail off. See www.SuGiles.com. Off to Canaseraga this week, not far from where I grew up, and looking forward to it. I'm playing at Canaseraga Hardware and Coffee, which used to be, but is no longer a hardware store. Musician friends have said it's nice space. I have gotten really nice publicity from many of the local newspapers there, and am very grateful. One of my pals also joked that I was getting posters in every woodchuck hole in Allegany County. One thing I love about this business besides the most obvious, the music, is the reconnections with old friends and family. One thing I knew I wanted out of this, in taking these jazzy songs out of my living room and into the world, was community. It is really happening with new friends and reconnections with old ones. If you don't like going out, consider bringing me (and then all your friends) in for a house concert at your home. E-mail me at info@LindaStout.com, and google to learn more about the house concert thing that has taken off all over the country. Some of my musician friends say house concerts are really fun dedicated listening rooms, often with potlucks or dessert parties.